|
Getting
Ready For A Hurricane
Your
Home, What To Do Before Hurricane Season
Hurricane
Supplies
Hurricane
Watch Planning
Hurricane
Warning Planning
Hurricane
Protection Products
During
A Hurricane
Other
Hurricane Information
|
You'll encounter difficulties with telephone communications, dangers from downed power lines and potential hazards from contaminated water and spoiled food. Once a hurricane has passed, it may still be unsafe to go outdoors. Stay tuned to your local television and radio stations to hear the official "all clear" from your county's Emergency Management Office, the American Red Cross or the police.
1. GOING HOME
- If you evacuated, don't return home until officials announce your area is safe. You may be required to present proof of residency in order to re-enter evacuation areas.
- Re-enter your home with caution. Check for structural damage. Turn-off any outside gas lines and let the house air out for several minutes to remove leaking gas.
- Don't use an open flame as a light source. Use a flashlight.
- Make sure children are safe. Don't let them play in a damaged building or near piles of debris.
- Make emergency repairs.
- If your home has sustained structural damage, don't move back in until local officials check it. Each county has plans to certify buildings for safety.
2. TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS
- Don't use the telephone unless it's absolutely necessary, so that people with emergencies have access to the system.
- Don't call 911 except for life-threatening situations.
- Don't report individual interruptions in electric, gas, water or telephone service. Utility companies have emergency plans to restore service after the storm clears the area. Call only after full service is restored in your neighborhood.
- Do call police or utility companies immediately to report hazards such as downed power lines, broken gas or water mains or overturned gas tanks.
3. WATER PREPARATIONS
Water supplies may become contaminated during a hurricane. The Public Health Department will issue a boil water order immediately after a hurricane passes. During this time, use only your pre-stored water or boil water. (Note: Pre-stored tap water will only be good for one week.)
Recipes for Pure Water
If you don't have enough pre-stored drinking water and have to use tap water:
Strain water through a paper towel or several layers of thick cloth to remove dirt before purifying; or let water settle in a container for 24-hours, so that solid particles sink to the bottom.
- Use one of the following methods to purify the water:
- BOILING: Boil water for ten minutes to kill any disease-causing microorganisms.
- CHEMICAL TREATMENT: Add one chlorine tablet (found in drug or sporting goods stores) for each quart of water to be purified.
- Add four water purification tablets per gallon of water; or add eight drops of chlorine bleach (without soap, lemon or other additives) per gallon of water.
- IODINE: Add five drops of tincture of iodine to each quart of clear water (for cloudy water add ten drops); or add one iodine tablet for each quart of water to be purified.
- Stir and let the solution stand for at least 30 minutes.
- To improve the flat taste of boiled water, Pour it back and forth from one container to another, let it stand for a few hours or add a pinch of salt for each quart boiled.
For more information, call the EPA Safe Drinking Water hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
4. FOOD
- Before using any food from the refrigerator, be sure to check it for spoilage. When in doubt, throw it out!
- Open your refrigerator only when necessary, in order to conserve cold air.
- Since the fumes can be deadly, use gas or charcoal grills outside the home only.
- Throw out all wet foods, except those sealed in airtight containers.
For more information on food safety, call the USDA hot line at 1-800-535-4555 or the Florida Cooperative Extension Service in Dade at (305) 888-5010 or in Broward at (954) 370-3725.
5. PETS
- Consider placing your pets in a kennel until it's safe for them to stay at home.
- Check their food and water before they eat or drink it. Just like you, pets can become ill from contaminated food and water.
6. POWER GENERATORS
As a result of a hurricane, your home and neighborhood might be without power for some time. Use a portable generator with the following precautions:
- A portable generator should only be operated outside the house. Breathing the accumulated carbon monoxide fumes will cause injury and could be fatal.
- Never hook generators up to home wiring. Run separate heavy-duty extension cords from the generator directly to indoor appliances.
- To prevent damage to your generator when electric service is restored, disconnect it before turning on the power to your home.
7. ELECTRICAL HAZARDS
After a hurricane, you may encounter electrical hazards around your home and neighborhood. Electricity from downed power lines can be fatal.
- Don't touch any low-hanging or fallen power lines. They might be crossed with a live power wire. Power lines should be seen as potentially deadly.
- Stay away from puddles with wires in them.
- Don't touch or cut tree limbs near power lines.
- Keep a close watch on children and make sure they don=t come close to power lines or utility crews.
- Don't pile debris near or on top of power line equipment such as poles, transformers or downed electrical wiring. This will delay the work crews' efforts to restore power.
- Inside the home, don't stand in water while operating switches or operate any appliances that may have been exposed to water.
- When reinstalling a CB, TV or satellite antenna, check in all directions to make certain that no power lines are nearby. Contact with a power line could be deadly.
8. CHAIN SAW SAFETY
The Florida Cooperative Extension Service recommends the following safety precautions:
- Keep both hands on the chain saw handles.
- Never cut branches above your head.
- Cut with the lower edge of the saw blade whenever possible.
- Don't force the saw.
- Wear protective clothing: a hard hat, goggles sturdy shoes, gloves and trim-fitting clothes.
9. CLEANING UP
- Remember, if your home has sustained structural damage, don't move back until it's checked by local officials.
- Make a list of damaged items inside your home, business or boat. Include a complete description.
- Check outside for damage to walls, roofs, porches and screens. Photograph or videotape damage to your home, business, car, boat and other personal property. This will speed up your insurance claim.
- Wear rubber gloves while scrubbing flood-damaged interiors and furniture.
- Treat wet books and papers by sprinkling cornstarch or talcum powder to absorb moisture. Leave powder on for several hours before brushing off.
10. REVIVING YOUR POOL
- Clean out as much debris as possible.
- While waiting for electricity, super-chlorinate your pool with either a 10 percent sodium hypochlorite solution or 65 percent calcium hypochlorite granules.
- Don't use your pool when it's super-chlorinated.
- Don't drain your pool without professional advice; your pool could actually pop out of the ground.
- Once you have electricity, call a licensed; insured pool company to check out your pool and equipment.
11. PHOTOS & ARTWORK
You can save storm-damaged family photos and artwork. Contact a professional as soon as possible because different types of art require different treatment. In the meantime, the most important thing you can do is preventing mold or mildew. The following remedies are suggested:
- For photos, remove from frames and spread out to dry face-up on paper towels, blotters or clean cloths. If photos are stuck to the frame or to each other, try freezing them in plastic bags. If freezing several photos, separate them with wax paper.
- For paintings, remove backing board and absorb moisture by dabbing them with paper towels on reverse side of canvas.
- Lean paintings against a table or a chair to allow free airflow.
12. PLANTS & TREES
Your uprooted trees can be saved and those that are bare will bloom again.
To save your trees:
- Stake leaning trees and bushes upright with cushioned wires or ropes.
- Cover exposed roots with damp sheets. Never use plastic.
- Prune lightly; don't use wound paint. If more than one-third of the plant is damaged, it may be better to replace it.
Replanting guidelines:
- Use native trees.
- Plant mostly on sides of the house with high sun exposure. Plant around air conditioner unit to shade it.
- Plant fast-growing vines to cover walls while trees are young.
13. BOATS
You've survived the hurricane and now you're wondering if your boat did too. Here are some suggestions:
- Wait until it's safe to enter the area where your boat is kept.
- If anything appears to be stolen, report it to the local law enforcement authorities.
- Make any necessary emergency repairs to avoid further damage or looting, and save receipts to include with your insurance claim.
- Work with your insurance agent to get estimates and to complete final repair work.
14. INSURANCE CLAIMS
If your home or personal belongings were damaged during the storm, the State Department of Insurance recommends the following guidelines for filing your claim:
- Immediately report property damage to your agent or insurance company. After a hurricane, most insurance companies should establish toll-free numbers to handle claims calls.
- Make emergency repairs and document them. Most homeowners' policies require that you make emergency repairs to prevent further damage to your home or its contents. Cover up with plastic or board up holes in roof, walls, doors and windows. Be careful! Take before and after pictures and save your receipts. Beware of contractors who encourage you to pay to a lot of money up front.
- Take precautions if the damage requires you to leave your home. Secure your property to the best of your ability and remove valuables. Contact your agent and leave a phone number where you can be reached.
- Beware of fly-by-night repair businesses. Hire licensed, reputable service people. If you hire someone to make repairs to your home, make sure they have current licenses, insurance and permits. Never pay all costs of a repair job up front and always get a receipt.
- Beware of unlicensed "Adjusters for Hire". Demand positive identification and proof of license and insurance. Your insurance company will provide you with an adjuster free of charge; however, there are adjusters for hire who charge a commission that won't be covered by your insurance policy.
|
